Rural mailbox



MarCh 1963 R. c. TAYLdR 3,081,023

RURAL MAILBOX Filed Nov. 30, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l k f z m j fl 5-INVENTOR. 4 06.607 6. 72/104? a; 409 A T ()RNE YS March 12, 1963 R. c.TAYLOR 3,081,023

RURAL MAILBOX Filed Nov. 30, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent O 3,081,023 RURAL MAILBOX Robert C. Taylor, 5560 N.Lakewood, Apt. J-3 Chicago 40, Ill. Filed Nov. 30, 1961, Ser. No.155,986 7 Claims. (Cl. 232-24) This invention relates to improvements ina rural mailbox and an assembly of similar mailboxes, and moreparticularly to a rural mailbox of a type designed for combination orconnection with similar mailboxes so that a group of such mailboxes maybe established in one particular location, the invention being highlydesirable for use in rural areas where mail is delivered to boxes alongthe roadside, suburban motels, and in similar locations, although theinvention may have other uses and purposes as well be apparent to oneskilled in the art.

In the past, many and various types of outdoor mailboxes particularlydesirable for rural usage have been developed, but these formerly knownmailboxes did not possess what now may be considered desirable if notneeded advantages. These formerly known mailboxes, therefore, are nowobjectionable for a number of reasons, including their unsymmetricalshape and resultant unattractive appearance, the fact that they are madein various sizes, the fact that they are usually of galvanized metal andtherefore subject to corrosion, and the further fact that they cannot bestacked or connected directly with other mailboxes, whereby when it isnecessary to provide a group of individual mailboxes at a particularlocation, it is necessary for the mailman to stop his vehicleseveraltimes in order to service the boxes, or leave the vehicle in order toserve the entire group. The individual mounting essential for outdoormailboxes heretofore made also added to the expense of such mountings,the space required for a plurality of mailboxes in a specific locationand gave the general landscape in the vicinity an unsightly appearance.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instantinvention to provide an outdoor mailbox carrying means for supportingconnection with similar mailboxes, whereby a plurality of like mailboxesmay be carried or supported by a single mounted mailbox.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an outdoor mailbox sodesigned that it may be connected with other similar mailboxes to form acompact group in a single location, such group necessitating only asingle stop by a mailman in order to serve a plurality of boxes.

Another desideratum of this invention is the provision of an outdoormailbox constructed for ready connection with similar mailboxes thuspermitting the boxes to be arranged in attractive groups and permittinga plurality of boxes to be supported on a single mounting post.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an outdoor mailboxhaving simple means on the exterior of the body thereof for easytelescopic connection with similar boxes.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of an outdoormailbox that is symmetrical in shape and attractive in appearance whenused singly or when structural connected with a plurality of likemailboxes.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an outdoormailbox that may readily and economically be manufactured ofnon-corrosive materials and, if desired, provided with a selectedpermanent color on at least a part thereof.

Still another feature of the instant invention resides in the provisionof an outdoor mailbox which may have a single piece body of lightweightmetal having integral means thereon for supporting connection with aplurality of like mailboxes.

3,081,023 Patented Mar. 12, 1963 While some of the more salientfeatures, characteristics and advantages of the. instant invention havebeen above pointed out, others will become apparent from the followingdisclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view indicating an arrangement of a pluralityof mailboxes embodying principles of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a different arrangement ofa plurality of the mailboxes;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a mailbox embodyingprinciples of the instant invention showing the same on a mounting post;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the structureof FIGURE 3 taken substantially as indicated by the lineIVIV of FIGURE3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary end view of the structure of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mailbox of FIGURE3 showing the flag in signal position; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary magnified view illustrating a connectionbetween two like mailboxes.

As shown on the drawings:

The instant invention may be fabricated from sheet metal, but consistentwith the desired qualities of strength, lightness, and durability, aswell as economical commercial production, the mailbox is preferablyformed with a minimum number of parts. To this end, the body of themailbox may be a one-piece extrusion of aluminum, aluminum alloy, orsome equivalently light and non-corrosive metal. The mailbox may havesubstantially any desirable configuration in cross-section, but ispreferably polygonal to afford easier and more intimate connection withsimilar mailboxes when an assembly is made at a particular site. Forillustrative purposes a hexagonal cross-section has been selected,whereby a plurality of the mailboxes may be assembled in honeycomb stylethereby affording a pleasant appearance, full utilization of space, andmore than adequate strength for the entire assembly.

With reference now more particularly to FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be seenthat the mailbox comprises a 'tubular body portion '1 closed at one endby an integral end piece 2, the side walls of the body projectingslightly beyond the end piece 2 as indicated at 3, if so desired, foradditional strength and protection against rough handling of the box.Externally, as well as internally, the box has a plurality of fiat faces4, and there will be a longitudinal apical line 5 between each pair ofadjacent faces which are obviously disposed at an angle to each other,there obviously being six faces and six apical lines with a boxhexagonal in cross-section.

Extruded integrally with each flat face of the body 1 is alongitudinally extending rib for connection with a complemental rib onanother box in order to combine such boxes in an assembly. The ribsalternate in size around the body 1, there being a male rib 6 on oneface 4, and a female rib 7 on each of the adjacent faces, and so onaround the box. All ribs may be of the same general c0ntour, but thefemale rib 7 is larger than a male rib 6, and of a size so receive amale rib telescopically therewithin as seen clearly in FIGURE 7. Eachrib is preferably centrally disposed of the respective face 4 andterminates short of the front of the box, as seen best in FIGURES 3 and6 so as not to interfere with the operation of the door of the box whichwill be later described. The shape of the ribs as illustrated, namely inthe form of an open sided hollow oval, is not essential but the ribs maybe of sub stantially any desirable shape as long as they willtelescopically interlock with complementary ribs.

'the attractiveness of the assembly.

Over the open end of the body 1 a door 8 is disposed, the door beinghinged to the body 1 along the edge of one of the faces 4 thereof,preferably by a piano type hinge 9 as seen in FIGURE 5. The door ispreferably provided with a circumscribing inwardly extending flange 16thereon to embrace the open end of the body 1 when the door is in closedposition as seen in FIGURES 3 and 6. The door will remain in closedposition by frictional contact with the body, but, of course, if sodesired a suitable form of lock may be provided by the user of themailbox. Riveted or equivalently secured to the upper portion of thedoor is a handle 11 for opening and closing the door, this handleextending across the end of one of the faces 40f the body, and beingprovided with an angularly disposed portion 12 extending to the adjacentface 4 of the body, as seen best in FIGURE 5. A flag 13 is hinged to theflange 10 of the door as indicated at 14 to pivotally move relatively tothe door so as tosignal the mailman or the mailbox owner that there issomething in the box. At the upper end thereof this flag has anangularly offset portion 15 corresponding to the portion 12 on thehandle 11 so that the entire front end of the mailbox has a symmetricaland pleasing appearance when the handle is raised or in non-signalingposition. The angular portion 15 on the handle also functions as a meansto facilitate moving the handle from the non-signalling position ofFIGURE 3 to signal position as seen in FIGURE 6.

A post is utilized to support a box or assembly of boxes. The post maybe of any suitable material, and a non-corrosive metallic post beingpreferable. As seen in FIG- URES 3, 4 and 5, a post 16 which may beround in shape, is provided with a suitable notch at its upper end toreceive an angular bracket 17 bonded in any suitable fashion to theupper end of the post. The bracket is of the proper angle to intimatelyreceive one of the apical lines of the box body and a portion of eachface 4 on the sides thereof as seen best in FIGURE 4, and the mailboxbody is'secured to the angle in any suitable manner such as by bolt andnut assemblies 18. Mounting the mailbox with one of the apical lines 5downward Within the angle plate 17 permits the mail to lie across theinside of the box above the very bottom thereof, rendering it moresimple to grasp the mail and remove it from the box. 7

With the instant invention, mailboxes may be assembled into tightlycompact groups, whereby a mailman may serve a relatively large number ofboxes with one stop of his delivery vehicle. The group arrangement ofthe mailboxes results in an attractive assembly, and if the mailboxesare made of aluminum, anodized, at least the mailbox covers may beprovided with various colors adding to A different color on the cover ofeach box also aids the mailman in determining ownership of the boxeswithout going to the trouble of reading the name and address of theowner of each box. The owners nameand address may readily be stenciledor otherwise applied to the handle or door of the respective mailbox.

'In FIGURE 1 I have indicated one attractive assembly wherein a lowermailbox 1 may be mounted on a post 16 in the manner above described.Then, on the upper left-hand oblique face i of the box 1 another box 1amay be connected to the first box by telescoping a female rib 7 of thebox 1a over the male rib 6 on the box 1.

On the upper right-hand oblique face 4 of the box 1 a box 1b may beconnected by telescoping the male rib of the box 1b into a female rib 7of the box 1, and at the same time telescoping a female rib of the box1b over a male rib 'on the side of the box In. In this manner all threeboxes are firmly secured together yet the box 1 supports the other twoboxes. The arrangement is exceedingly compact and it is not at alldifficult for a mailman to service all three boxes at one stop.Obviously, another box could be mounted in the same assembly directlyover the box 1 connected to the two adjacent sloping faces of the boxes1::

and 1b, and in similar manner substantially any desired arrangement canbe made.

In FIGURE 2 I have illustrated an arrangement whereby a total of tenboxes are supported on two spaced posts 16-16, the entire ten boxesbeing carried and supported by the lower left and right hand boxesconnected to the two posts. In this arrangement, some of the boxes,particularly the two central ones, have a telescopic connection with sixother boxes, and the entire assembly with each box thereof having aplurality of telescopic connections with other boxes is an exceedinglyrigid and durable arrangement.

It will be understood that the two assemblies of FIG- URES l and 2 areshown by way of example and not by way of limitation since it isvirtually impossible herein to even suggest all of the arrangements thatmay be desired for efficiency or attractiveness and which would occur toone skilled in the art after a study of the instant invention.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided an economical,highly durable, and ornamental mailbox so formed as to be readilypositively connected to similar mailboxes to form compact assemblies forready and easy servicing of the boxes by a mail carrier. The boxes maybe so arranged that a compact strong assembly may be provided andsupported by a minimum number of ground posts, permitting variousornamental arrangements to be selected by the box owners.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A mailbox comprising (a) a hollow body closed at one end and made ofa light weight metal, I

(1) said body having a polygonal cross-section,

(b) a cover hinged to said body for closing the open end thereof, I I

(c) and an external rib extending lengthwise centrally of each face ofthe polygonal body,

(1) said ribs being alternately of male and female shape, wherebysimilar mailboxes may be connected in face to face relationship.

2. A mailbox comprising (a) a hollow body closed at one end and made ofa lightweight metal,

(1) said body having a polygonal cross-section,

(b) a cover hinged to said body for closing the open end thereof,

(c) and an external rib extending lengthwise centrally along each of aplurality of the side faces of the polygonal body for longitudinaltelescopic association with a complemental rib on another mailbox.

3. A mailbox comprising (a) a tubular metallic body closed at one end(1) and having a plurality of external fiat faces therearound,

(b) a door hinged to said body'for closing the other end thereof, and

(c) a plurality of external male and female connecting members on saidbody for engagement with complemental means on similar mailboxes,

whereby a plurality of separate mailboxes may be supported solely by onemailbox in external face to face relationship.

4. A mailbox comprising (a) an extruded metal tubular body having aclosed (1) said body being polygonal in cross-section to provide (2% 3plurality of flat external faces around said (b) an integral ribextending lengthwise of saidbody on each of a plurality of said faces,

(1) there being both male and female ribs on said body,

(2) at least the female ribs being hollow for telescopic engagement witha male rib on a similar mailbox, and

(c) a door hinged to said body in position to close the open end of saidbody.

5. A mailbox assembly comprising (a) a hollow box body closed at oneend, said body having (1) a polygonal cross-section with a plurality ofexternal flat faces and v (2) an apical line between each pair ofadjacent faces, (11) a closure for the other end of said body, (c) aground post,

(d) and an angular support mounted apex downwardly on said post, andsaid box body being mounted on said support with an apical line thereofdownward and seating in the angle of said support.

6. A mailbox assembly comprising, (a) a plurality of like mailboxes,([1) each mailbox being hexagonal in cross-section, (c) connecting meanson each mailbox complemental to those on each other mailbox, (d) a pairof spaced ground posts, (e) one of said mailboxes being, mounted on eachof said ground posts, and

(f) the remainder of said mailboxes being connected together and to thepost mounted mailboxes by said connecting means in honeycomb fashion,

whereby the remainder of said mailboxes are all directly 5 supported bythe pair of post mounted mailboxes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS473,676 Speer Apr. 26, 1892 894,577 Bessner July 28, 1908 1,350,770Bates Aug. 24, 1920 1,534,920 Cox Apr. 21, 1925 1,642,806 Choate Sept.20, 1927 1,994,186 Anderson Mar. 12, 1935 2,563,094 Becker Aug. 7, 19512,807,410 Ward Sept. 24, 1957 2,873,062 Cornell Feb. 10, 1959

7. A MAILBOX ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, (A) A SINGLE GROUND POST, (B) APLURALITY OF MAILBOXES ARRANGED IN HONEYCOMB STYLE CARRIED BY ONEMAILBOX SECURED TO SAID POST, (C) SAID MAILBOXES EACH HAVING A PLURALITYOF FLAT FACES, AND (D) MALE AND FEMALE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RIBS ONA PLURALITY OF THE FACES OF SAID MAILBOXES ARRANGED IN TELESCOPICENGAGEMENT BY WHICH THE MAILBOXES ARE CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER.